TY - JOUR
T1 - Risk factors for HIV infection among drug injectors in southern Thailand
AU - Perngmark, Pajongsil
AU - Celentano, David D.
AU - Kawichai, Surinda
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors acknowledge the Fogarty AIDS International Training and Research Program, The Johns Hopkins University, and the Royal Thai Government for funding this study. We thank Dr Chris Beyrer and Dr Dittakarn Boriboonhirunsarn for thoughtful suggestions. We appreciate directors and hospital staff from drug-treatment clinics at Had-Yai, Narathiwat, Su-ngai-kolok, Ranong, Surat-Thani, and Trang Hospitals for collaboration and providing facilities. We thank Apiradee Saelim for data entry assistance; Dr Suphak Vanichseni for providing helpful information about IDU in Bangkok and providing the WHO questionnaire (Thai version, 1994); Chavalee Bunto for helpful information about Islamic beliefs; and all participants for providing their time and sharing their information.
PY - 2003/9/10
Y1 - 2003/9/10
N2 - Background: To determine HIV sero-prevalence and risk factors for HIV infection among injecting drug users (IDU) in southern Thailand. Methods: Using a cross-sectional HIV sero-prevalence and behavioral survey, 272 active IDU were interviewed about background, life-style, drug use patterns, and sexual behaviors at six drug-treatment clinics in southern Thailand. Results: Ninety-one percent reported lifetime needle sharing; 96% had tried HIV risk-reduction by either stopping/decreasing visits to sex workers and/or stopping/decreasing needle sharing. Only 5% knew that bleaching needles could reduce transmission risks. Overall, 51% tested HIV-positive (43% ethnic Thai vs. 64% ethnic Malay). HIV seropositivity among ethnic Thai was independently correlated with past history of needle sharing (OR 6.95; 1.89-25.58), injecting immediately at drug onset (OR 2.53; 1.25-5.13), and starting first injection at younger age (OR 2.61; 1.31-5.22). Injecting immediately at drug onset (OR 4.32; 1.23-15.14) and not carrying new needles (OR 4.47; 1.27-15.69) were risk factors among minority ethnic Malay. Conclusion: A high rate of HIV infection persists among southern-Thai IDU. HIV-infected individuals may act as a bridge of HIV transmission to their sex partners. AIDS prevention efforts should more intensely focus on minority ethnic Malays, discouraging needle sharing and increasing protected sex with regular sexual partners.
AB - Background: To determine HIV sero-prevalence and risk factors for HIV infection among injecting drug users (IDU) in southern Thailand. Methods: Using a cross-sectional HIV sero-prevalence and behavioral survey, 272 active IDU were interviewed about background, life-style, drug use patterns, and sexual behaviors at six drug-treatment clinics in southern Thailand. Results: Ninety-one percent reported lifetime needle sharing; 96% had tried HIV risk-reduction by either stopping/decreasing visits to sex workers and/or stopping/decreasing needle sharing. Only 5% knew that bleaching needles could reduce transmission risks. Overall, 51% tested HIV-positive (43% ethnic Thai vs. 64% ethnic Malay). HIV seropositivity among ethnic Thai was independently correlated with past history of needle sharing (OR 6.95; 1.89-25.58), injecting immediately at drug onset (OR 2.53; 1.25-5.13), and starting first injection at younger age (OR 2.61; 1.31-5.22). Injecting immediately at drug onset (OR 4.32; 1.23-15.14) and not carrying new needles (OR 4.47; 1.27-15.69) were risk factors among minority ethnic Malay. Conclusion: A high rate of HIV infection persists among southern-Thai IDU. HIV-infected individuals may act as a bridge of HIV transmission to their sex partners. AIDS prevention efforts should more intensely focus on minority ethnic Malays, discouraging needle sharing and increasing protected sex with regular sexual partners.
KW - HIV infection
KW - Risk factors
KW - Southern Thai IDU
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U2 - 10.1016/S0376-8716(03)00137-6
DO - 10.1016/S0376-8716(03)00137-6
M3 - Article
C2 - 12957341
AN - SCOPUS:1542397117
SN - 0376-8716
VL - 71
SP - 229
EP - 238
JO - Drug and alcohol dependence
JF - Drug and alcohol dependence
IS - 3
ER -